European Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Foods
In a major decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names including "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Means
If the measure is implemented, popular plant-based items like veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to be renamed across European Union countries.
Nevertheless, before the ban to take effect, it needs to receive support from most of the 27 EU member states, which remains uncertain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Proponents contend that consumers require transparent labeling and while meat terms should only refer to items derived from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage are goods from animal farming: not from synthetic production nor plant products," said French MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, described the decision political maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Legal Context
The marks another effort to control such terminology. The European parliament rejected a similar ban in four years ago.
The French government previously enacted a domestic ban on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts ruled it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Business and Public Response
Major German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that altering familiar terms would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys showing that the majority of shoppers understand these names as long as products are properly marked as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of consumers understand the terminology provided items are explicitly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Next
This legislative measure next requires consideration by EU member states, and it must secure broad support to be enacted.
Given the mixed opinions among both politicians and the general population, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.
